An affidavit said in 2010, Richardson won $1.4 million and lost about the same. In 2011, investigators said Richardson won $12.5 million gambling but lost $14.2 million. In three years, Richardson registered a net loss of $2.1 million betting.

"It's obvious that the defendant had some serious issues with regard to spending money from a gambling standpoint," said Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine.

However, Colombo Candy had argued the blame should be less on Richardson and more on an Iowa casino. Colombo Candy said the casino knew that Richardson was a problem gambler and “knew that problem gamblers can and do resort to large-scale embezzlements.”

Investigators said Richardson hid transactions by manipulating inventory and financial records, transferring company money to three personal bank accounts.

“Businesses might have money missing, but it's difficult to tell exactly where it went or if they have bad accounting issues -- that's not the case here,” Kleine said.

Colombo didn't realize the money was missing until an audit took place, and the company initially declined to even file a police report in the case.

Richardson, who is awaiting sentencing in Sarpy County on the tax fraud charges, was bound over for trial on the theft charges in Douglas County court Friday afternoon.